ICAC commended for cracking graft-facilitated card fraud
2002-11-2
The ICAC was commended for its vigilant and determined efforts in cracking a counterfeit credit card fraud, which involved the capturing of card data with an electronic device implanted by a syndicate in a restaurant's point-of-sales terminal.
The ICAC investigation into this case had resulted in the first successful prosecution involving such modus operandi. The electronic device seized in the ICAC operation was capable of storing approximately 4,000 sets of credit card data.
Representing the Management Committee-Card Authorization System in PRC, the BOC Credit Card (International) Limited (BOC Credit Card) yesterday (Friday) presented a souvenir plaque to the ICAC in recognition of ICAC officers' high standard of professional ism and expertise.
Mr Vincent Chau Kin-fai, Authorisation Manager of BOC Credit Card, said the ICAC's effective enforcement action in the case had made remarkable contribution to the credit card industry.
Receiving the plaque on behalf of the Commission, ICAC's Assistant Director of Operations, Mr Kenny Tso Wai-yan, said the Commission had in the past few years extended its intelligence network in order to effectively combat corruption-facilitated card fra ud cases.
"We count on the co-operation and support of industry practitioners in sustaining effective law enforcement and making counterfeit credit card fraud a high-risk crime in Hong Kong," Mr Tso said.
The ICAC had received information alleging that some restaurant staff might have taken bribes to help a syndicate capture customers' credit card data.
Investigation revealed that an electronic device, measuring 1" x 2", was secretly installed at the restaurant's point-of-sales terminal to capture customers' credit card data when the syndicate members played overnight mahjong games.
On the following day, syndicate members returned to the restaurant to retrieve the electronic device, on the pretext of having another mahjong game.
A number of persons were arrested at the restaurant in an ambush operation during overnight mahjong games.
One of the syndicate members, who was caught red-handed by ICAC officers after retrieving the device, was subsequently charged with one count of possessing an equipment for making false credit cards. He pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to one year's imp risonment.
The ICAC investigation into this case had resulted in the first successful prosecution involving such modus operandi. The electronic device seized in the ICAC operation was capable of storing approximately 4,000 sets of credit card data.
Representing the Management Committee-Card Authorization System in PRC, the BOC Credit Card (International) Limited (BOC Credit Card) yesterday (Friday) presented a souvenir plaque to the ICAC in recognition of ICAC officers' high standard of professional ism and expertise.
Mr Vincent Chau Kin-fai, Authorisation Manager of BOC Credit Card, said the ICAC's effective enforcement action in the case had made remarkable contribution to the credit card industry.
Receiving the plaque on behalf of the Commission, ICAC's Assistant Director of Operations, Mr Kenny Tso Wai-yan, said the Commission had in the past few years extended its intelligence network in order to effectively combat corruption-facilitated card fra ud cases.
"We count on the co-operation and support of industry practitioners in sustaining effective law enforcement and making counterfeit credit card fraud a high-risk crime in Hong Kong," Mr Tso said.
The ICAC had received information alleging that some restaurant staff might have taken bribes to help a syndicate capture customers' credit card data.
Investigation revealed that an electronic device, measuring 1" x 2", was secretly installed at the restaurant's point-of-sales terminal to capture customers' credit card data when the syndicate members played overnight mahjong games.
On the following day, syndicate members returned to the restaurant to retrieve the electronic device, on the pretext of having another mahjong game.
A number of persons were arrested at the restaurant in an ambush operation during overnight mahjong games.
One of the syndicate members, who was caught red-handed by ICAC officers after retrieving the device, was subsequently charged with one count of possessing an equipment for making false credit cards. He pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to one year's imp risonment.